Dose counter and distributor of a fluid product incorporating a counter of this type

ABSTRACT

A dose counter device for a fluid dispenser, said device comprising counting means ( 10, 11 ) actuated by actuating means ( 20 ) each time the dispenser is used, said device being characterized in that said counting means comprise at least one flexible rotary counting element ( 10 ) applied against and turning on a curved support surface ( 1, 2 ).

The present invention relates to a dose counter device and to a fluiddispenser incorporating such a dose counter.

Dose counter systems for fluid dispenser devices are well known in thestate of the art. Such a dose counter system generally comprisescounting means that are usually in the form of rotary disks, and thatare turned through a predetermined angle each time the fluid dispenseris actuated. Such disks generally carry digits to indicate the number ofmetered quantities or “doses” dispensed or remaining to be dispensed,the digits generally being provided on the outer peripheral edges ofsuch counting disks, i.e. on the outer edge that defines the thicknessof the counting disk. Thus, each time the fluid dispenser is actuated, acorresponding digit comes into register with a suitable window enablingsaid digit to be viewed from outside the dispenser. Counters of thistype are disclosed in particular in Documents EP-0 484 188, EP-0 472915, EP-0 539 469, EP-0 539 469, EP-0 764 312, and WO 98/01822.

Those counters suffer from drawbacks. Firstly, the presence of such acounter in a fluid dispenser device implies that the size of saiddispenser device must be increased, and the larger the number of dosesto be counted, the larger the volume required for the counter system. Inparticular, in order to count a large number of doses, it is necessaryeither to increase the diameter of the counting disk so that it ispossible to write more digits on the edge of the disk, or else toprovide one or more superposed counting disks co-operating, for example,by means of a cam system, the disks then representing respectively theunits, the tens, the hundreds, etc. The size of the counter system isthen increased considerably along the axis of rotation of said countingdisks. In addition, such dose counter systems are not easy to adapt to adispenser device, and relatively complex means for actuating the counterare generally necessary for coupling actuating of the counter toactuating of the fluid dispenser device. Furthermore, that type ofcounter is not generally adaptable to dispenser devices that havevarious different actuating strokes. Thus, for example, in a meteringvalve, the actuating stroke of the valve member can vary depending onthe metering valve model used, so that specific actuating means must beprovided for each valve model. In addition, the actuating stroke of thevalve member of a single metering valve can vary between successionoccasions on which said valve is actuated, which can give rise tomalfunctioning in the counting of the doses, it being possible that adose might not be counted, or might be counted twice due to the variableactuating stroke being respectively too short or too long.

An object of the present invention is to provide a dose counter devicefor a fluid dispenser that does not suffer from the above-mentioneddrawbacks.

In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a dosecounter device that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and toassemble.

An object of the present invention is also to provide such a dosecounter device that does not significantly change the outside dimensionsof the fluid dispenser device to which it is applied.

An object of the present invention is also to provide such a dosecounter device that is capable of counting any number of doses,including very large numbers, without significantly changing the size ofthe fluid dispenser.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a dosecounter device that can be used with actuating members, in particularvalves, that have variable actuating strokes.

The present invention thus provides a dose counter device for a fluiddispenser, said device comprising counting means actuated by actuatingmeans each time the dispenser is used, said device being characterizedin that said counting means comprise at least one flexible rotarycounting element applied against and turning on a curved supportsurface.

Preferably, said flexible counting element is deformed each time it isactuated so as to remain in contact with said curved support surface.

Advantageously, said flexible counting element is in the form of a disk,and is provided with a ring of serrations or the like around its outeredge, which ring of serrations is suitable for co-operating with saidactuating means.

In a particular embodiment of the present invention, said counting meanscomprise two superposed flexible rotary counting elements, saidactuating means co-operating with the first counting element, andcoupling means being provided between the two counting elements forcausing the second counting element to turn, said coupling means beingmounted to move between a non-coupling position and a coupling position.

Advantageously, said counting elements turn about a common axis ofrotation, said coupling means comprising a resilient tab secured to orintegral with one of the two counting elements and co-operating with aslot provided in the other counting element, said tab being urged intothe coupling position by cam means each time the first coupling elementhas turned through one full turn.

In a variant, said counting elements turn about mutually offset parallelaxes of rotation, said coupling means comprising a stud that is securedto or integral with one of the two counting elements, that co-operateswith a projection secured to or integral with the other countingelement, and that comes into the coupling position each time the firstcounting element turns through one full turn.

Advantageously, the second counting element is implemented in the formof a flexible disk or of an angular sector of flexible disk.

Advantageously, one of the two superposed flexible counting elements isprovided with a window for viewing the other counting element.

Advantageously, one of the two superposed flexible counting elements isorganized to be transparent for the purpose of viewing the othercounting element.

The present invention also provides a dispenser for dispensing a fluid,said dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir, a dispensing member, suchas a pump or a valve, and a dispensing orifice, for selectivelydispensing said fluid, said dispenser further comprising a dose counterdisk.

Preferably, said at least one counting element is disposed between twoconcentric substantially cylindrical surfaces, the axis of rotation ofsaid at least one counting element being substantially perpendicular tosaid substantially cylindrical surfaces.

Advantageously, said at least one counting element is disposed betweenthe outer body of the dispenser and an inner body inside which thereservoir is mounted.

In a first embodiment of the invention, said reservoir is mounted toslide inside said inner body, said reservoir co-operating with saidactuating means for actuating the dose counter device, so that, bymoving, the reservoir causes the counter to be actuated.

Advantageously, said actuating means comprise an actuating fingermounted to be moved with the reservoir so as to co-operate with saidcounting element, said finger being flexible, at least in the directionin which the reservoir moves, so that it can adapt to accommodatevarious displacement strokes over which the reservoir is moved.

Advantageously, the dispensing member is a metering valve adapted todispensing a fluid with a propellant gas, the displacement stroke of thereservoir corresponding to the actuating stroke of the valve member ofthe metering valve.

Advantageously, said flexible finger is part of an actuator membermounted to slide between said inner body of the dispenser and saidreservoir, said inner body defining a window through which said flexiblefinger co-operates with said counting element, said window beingprovided with an abutment against which said flexible finger comes whenit moves axially, so that any additional axial movement causes saidflexible finger to be deformed elastically.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, the reservoir ismounted to be fixed in the body of the dispenser, said dispenser furthercomprising a dispensing element for actuating said dispensing member,said actuating means for actuating said dose counter device beingconstrained to move with said dispensing element.

Advantageously, said dispensing element is a cover mounted to pivotbetween a position in which the dispensing orifice is closed, and adispensing position, the dispensing member being a pump triggerable byinhaling.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention willappear on reading the following detailed description of two particularembodiments of the present invention given by way of non-limitingexample with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic partially cut-away section view of a fluiddispenser incorporating a dose counter device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic horizontal section view on line I—I of thedevice shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic partially cut-away section view of a fluiddispenser incorporating a second embodiment of a dose counter device ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to the view in FIG. 3, with the fluid dispenserin the actuated position;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic horizontal section view on line I—I of thedevice of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrammatic views of a dose counter device comprisingtwo superposed counting elements, in a first variant embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views of a dose counter device comprisingtwo superposed counting elements in a second variant embodiment of thepresent invention.

The dose counting dispenser of the present invention includes one ormore flexible rotary counting elements. Advantageously, the countingelement is implemented in the form of a flexible disk 10 which isapplied against a curved and in particular substantially cylindricalsupport surface. The flexible disk 10 may be applied against a convexsurface or against a concave surface depending on whether it is placedon the inside or on the outside of said support surface. However, in thedescription below, and in the preferred embodiments, the counting disk10 is advantageously disposed between two concentric surfaces whichdefine a small gap between them, in which said flexible disk 10 isdisposed. Advantageously, these two surfaces are constituted by theouter body 1 of the fluid dispenser device, and an inner body 2 fixed tosaid outer body 1.

The or each counting element 10 advantageously turns about an axis ofrotation that is substantially perpendicular to said curved supportsurface(s). As described in more detail below, when two or more disksare provided, they can turn either about a common axis of rotation 60,or else about respective mutually offset axes of rotation 60, 61.

The flexible counting disk 10 co-operates with actuating means 20, andthe outer periphery of the counting disk 10 is advantageously providedwith a ring of serrations 15 or the like. The actuating means 20successively come into engagement with a respective serration of saidring of serrations 15 each time said fluid dispenser device is actuated.Advantageously, said actuating means comprise an actuating finger 20.The actuating finger 20 is preferably flexible as described in moredetail below. It is also possible to provide non-return means 40 forpreventing the counting disks from turning in a direction opposite fromthe direction of the turning imparted by said actuating means 20. Thenon-return means may comprise a flexible catch 40 co-operating with saidring of serrations 15 in known manner.

FIGS. 6 to 9 show two variant embodiments of a dose counter devicecomprising two superposed counting elements 10 and 11. The firstembodiment, shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, shows a first counting element 10implemented in the form of a flexible disk whose outer peripheral edgeis provided with a ring of serrations 15 co-operating with actuatingmeans 20 (not shown in the figures). Each serration of the ring ofserrations 15 corresponds to a digit. In the example shown, the digitsrange from 0 to 99, i.e. the ring of serrations 15 comprises 100serrations. Said first flexible disk 10 turns about an axisperpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the curved surfaceagainst which said flexible counting disk 10 is applied. A secondflexible rotary counting element 11 is superposed on the first countingdisk 10, and, in the example shown, is constituted by a sector of adisk. It could also be implemented in the form of a full disk, dependingon the desired amounts to be indicated. The two counting elements,namely the first flexible disk 10 and the superposed flexible sector ofa disk 11, turn about a common axis of rotation 60, and coupling means70, 80 are provided between the two counting elements 10 and 11 so as tocouple the two counting elements together in predetermined manner, sothat the first flexible counting disk 10 turning causes the superposedflexible sector of a disk 11 to turn simultaneously. The coupling meansmay advantageously comprise a flexible tab 70 whose end is provided witha projection 71 forming a sort of hook. The second counting element (thesector of a disk 11, in this example) is provided with a plurality ofslots 80 positioned so as to receive said projection 71 when the twocounting disks are to be coupled together. Cam means 90 are provided tourge the flexible tab 70 and to deform it so that the projection 71penetrates into the slot, thereby securing the two counting elements 10and 11 together. The coupling is preferably achieved each time the firstcounting disk 10 turns through one full turn. Said cam means 90 may beformed in particular by a protuberance or the like provided in thesupport surface against which the first counting disk 10 is applied.Naturally, any equivalent means making it possible to urge the flexibletab 70 of the first counting disk 10 into the slot 80 of the secondcounting disk 11 may be considered. Similarly, said coupling means 70and 80 may be made in a different manner. In particular, the couplingmeans could be inverted, i.e. it would be the second counting element 11that supports the resilient coupling means 70, while the first couplingdisk 10 incorporates the slot(s) 80.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a second variant embodiment, in which the two rotarycounting elements turn about respective axes of rotation 60 and 61 thatare different. Once again, in this example, the second counting element11 is implemented in the form of a sector of a disk, but it may also beimplemented in the form of a full disk, if desired. In this example, thecoupling means comprise a stud 70 secured to or integral with the firstcounting element and which is suitable for co-operating with projections80 provided on the second counting element 11. Each time the firstcounting element turns through one full turn, said stud 70 comes todrive a projection 80 on the second counting element 11, therebycoupling together said two counting elements. Any other variant of thecoupling means may also be considered in this example.

In the two embodiments described above with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9,the second counting element 11 is advantageously disposed on the firstcounting element 10, in the direction in which the user views it, i.e.the second counting element 11 is interposed between the first countingelement 10 and a viewing window 50 provided in the outer body 1 of thefluid dispenser device. In which case, the numerals or indications onthe second counting element are advantageously printed on a transparentsurface, so that said second counting element 11 does not mask thenumerals or indications on the first counting element 10, disposedbelow. Optionally, it is also possible to provide a viewing windowmaking it possible to see the digits written on the counting element 10disposed below.

Advantageously, the second counting element 11 has a blacked-out portionwhich comes into register with the viewing window 50 of the fluiddispenser device after the last dose of fluid has been dispensed. Thismakes it possible to predetermine a theoretical number of maximum dosesto be dispensed by the fluid dispenser, so that, after the lasttheoretical dose has been dispensed, the viewing window is blacked out,and the user is aware that the device must no longer be used. However,the device is not prevented from being actuated, and it is possible tocontinue to actuate the fluid dispenser device, without any indicationbeing displayed in the viewing window 50.

The dose counter device of the present invention is applicable to anytype of fluid dispenser device, and the following detailed descriptionis made with reference to two particular embodiments, in which the dosecounter is applied firstly to an inhaler-type device that is actuated byinhaling and that is referred to as a Breath-Actuated Inhaler (BAI), andsecondly to a device of the aerosol inhaler type that is referred to asa Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI). Naturally, the present invention is notlimited to these two examples.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an inhaler, in particular an inhaler triggered by thepatient inhaling. The device includes an outer body 1 provided with aviewing window 50. The counting element 10 is applied inside said outerbody 1 and against an inner body 2 forming a curved support surface. Asshown in FIG. 2, the curved surface is not necessarily cylindrical, theflexibility of the counting element 10 enabling it to turn about itsaxis of rotation 60 while remaining continuously in contact with the twocurved surfaces that flank it, i.e. the outer body and the inner body 1and 2 of the dispenser, independently of the shapes of said curvedsurfaces. The actuating means comprise an actuating finger 20 that ismounted to be displaced axially, and whose end co-operates with theperipheral ring of serrations on the outer element 10. Advantageously,said actuating finger 20 is secured to or integral with a pusher, or tosome other dispensing element of this type. In particular, the actuatingfinger 20 may be secured to or integral with a cover mounted to movebetween a closed position in which it closes the dispensing orifice 5and a dispensing position, the cover being mounted to pivot on the outerbody of the dispenser, the cover pivoting causing the actuating finger20 to travel over its axial stroke, thereby causing the counting element10 to turn.

FIGS. 3 to 5 show a second embodiment, applied to an MDI. This type ofdevice generally has an outer body 1 incorporating a mouthpiece providedwith the dispensing orifice 5. The fluid reservoir 4, containing thefluid dispersed in a propellant gas, is mounted to slide inside saidouter body 1, and is provided with a metering valve. The reservoir 4moving thus causes the valve member of the metering valve 3 (not shownin detail) to move, thereby expelling a dose of fluid. An inner body 2is mounted inside the outer body 1, the counting element 10 beingprovided between the inner body 2 and the outer body 1. Advantageously,the reservoir 4 is cylindrical, as are the inner body and the outerbody, so that the counting element 10 is applied against a cylindricalsurface. The present invention is however also applicable to curvedsupport surfaces that are not cylindrical. An actuator member 7 ismounted to slide between the inner body 2 and the reservoir 4, saidactuating member 7 incorporating a flexible actuating finger 20 whoseend serves to co-operate with the peripheral ring of serrations 15 onthe counting element 10. The actuator member 7 is mounted to moveaxially against a resilient element 8, such as a flexible tab or aspring, suitable for returning said actuator member 7 into the startingposition, after a full actuating cycle. The actuator member 7 furtheradvantageously includes a control shoulder 9 which presses against theneck 4′ of the reservoir 4 containing the fluid. The actuator 7, whichslides inside the inner body 2, is advantageously mounted to slide on asupport seat formed in part by the inner body 2 and completed by a rib1′ formed in the outer body 1. A side wall 32 of said seat and said rib1′ define an opening or a window 30 through which the end of theflexible finger 20 can penetrate to co-operate with the counting member10. Advantageously, the rib 1′ is provided with a shoulder 31 whichforms an abutment against which the flexible actuating finger 20 comeswhen it moves axially.

The system shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 operates as follows. When the fluiddispenser device is actuated, the reservoir 4 is moved verticallydownwards, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Under the effect of the controlshoulder 9, the actuator member 7 slides with said reservoir 4. Thus,the tip of the resilient actuating finger 20 penetrates into the window30 and co-operates with a serration on the flexible counting element 10,thereby causing it to turn. The angle of rotation through which thecounting element 10 turns is determined and limited by the position ofthe shoulder 31, so that said angle of rotation is independent of thelength of the actuating stroke of the reservoir 4. If the actuatingstroke of the reservoir 4 is longer, the tip of the flexible finger 20is stopped by the abutment shoulder 31, and any additional axialdisplacement is absorbed by said flexible finger 20 flexing.Advantageously, said finger is flexible both horizontally andvertically. Similarly, while the actuator member 7 is returning to itsrest position, under the effect of the resilient element 8, the tip ofthe actuating finger 20 exits from the window 30, still in the sameposition because of the presence of the side wall 32, and any additionalvertical movement is absorbed by said flexible finger 20 flexinghorizontally. Since the actuating stroke of said reservoir 4 correspondsto the actuating stroke of the metering valve 3 mounted on saidreservoir, the counter system of the present invention is thusapplicable to different valves having different actuating strokes. Italso makes it possible for the doses dispensed by a metering valvehaving actuating strokes that vary between successive occasions on whichit is actuated to be counted reliably.

Depending on the positioning of the window 30 defined between theshoulder 31 of the rib 1′ and the side wall 32 of the seat of theactuator member 7, the counting element 10 is turned at the beginning ofthe actuating stroke of the reservoir 4, at the end of said stroke, orbetween the two ends.

Naturally, various modifications may be considered without going beyondthe ambit of the present invention, whose scope is defined by theaccompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dose counter device for a fluid dispenser, saiddevice comprising counting means (10, 11) actuated by actuating means(20) each time the dispenser is used, said device being characterized inthat said counting means comprise at least one flexible rotary countingelement (10) applied against and turning on a curved support surface (1,2).
 2. A device according to claim 1, in which said flexible countingelement (10) is deformed each time it is actuated so as to remain incontact with said curved support surface (1, 2).
 3. A device accordingto claim 1, in which said flexible counting element (10) is in the formof a disk, and is provided with a ring of serrations (15) or the likearound its outer edge, which ring of serrations is suitable forco-operating with said actuating means (20).
 4. A device according toclaim 1, in which said counting means comprise two superposed flexiblerotary counting elements (10, 11), said actuating means (20)co-operating with the first counting element (10), and coupling means(70, 80) being provided between the two counting elements (10, 11) forcausing the second counting element (11) to turn, said coupling means(70, 80) being mounted to move between a non-coupling position and acoupling position.
 5. A device according to claim 4, in which saidcounting elements (10, 11) turn about a common axis of rotation (60),said coupling means comprising a resilient tab (70) secured to orintegral with one of the two counting elements (10, 11) and co-operatingwith a slot (80) provided in the other counting element (11, 10), saidtab (70) being urged into the coupling position by cam means (90) eachtime the first coupling element (10) has turned through one full turn.6. A device according to claim 4, in which said counting elements (10,11) turn about mutually offset parallel axes of rotation (60, 61), saidcoupling means comprising a stud (70) that is secured to or integralwith one of the two counting elements (10, 11), that co-operates with aprojection (80) secured to or integral with the other counting element(11, 10), and that comes into the coupling position each time the firstcounting element (10) turns through one full turn.
 7. A device accordingto claim 4, in which the second counting element (11) is implemented inthe form of a flexible disk or of an angular segment of flexible disk.8. A device according to claim 4, in which one of the two superposedflexible counting elements (10, 11) is provided with a window (100) forviewing the other counting element (11, 10) in part.
 9. A deviceaccording to claim 4, in which one of the two superposed flexiblecounting elements (10, 11) is organized to be transparent for thepurpose of viewing the other counting element (11, 10).
 10. A dispenserfor dispensing a fluid, said dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir, adispensing member (3), such as a pump or a valve, and a dispensingorifice (5), for selectively dispensing said fluid, said dispenser beingcharacterized in that it further comprises a dose counter deviceaccording claim
 1. 11. A dispenser according to claim 10, in which saidat least one counting element (10) is disposed between two concentricsubstantially cylindrical surfaces (1, 2), the axis of rotation (60) ofsaid at least one counting element (10) being substantiallyperpendicular to said substantially cylindrical surfaces (1, 2).
 12. Adispenser according to claim 10, in which said at least one countingelement (10) is disposed between the outer body (1) of the dispenser andan inner body (2) inside which the reservoir (4) is mounted.
 13. Adispenser according to claim 12, in which said reservoir (4) is mountedto slide inside said inner body (2), said reservoir (4) co-operatingwith said actuating means (20) for actuating the dose counter device, sothat, by moving, the reservoir (4) causes the counter to be actuated.14. A dispenser according to claim 13, in which said actuating means(20) comprise an actuating finger (20) mounted to be moved with thereservoir (4) so as to co-operate with said counting element (10), saidfinger (20) being flexible, at least in the direction in which thereservoir (4) moves, so that it can adapt to accommodate variousdisplacement strokes over which the reservoir is moved.
 15. A dispenseraccording to claim 14, in which the dispensing member (3) is a meteringvalve adapted to dispensing a fluid with a propellant gas, thedisplacement stroke of the reservoir (4) corresponding to the actuatingstroke of the valve member of the metering valve (3).
 16. A dispenseraccording to claim 15, in which said flexible finger (20) is part of anactuator member (7) mounted to slide between said inner body (2) of thedispenser and said reservoir (4), said inner body (2) defining a window(30) through which said flexible finger (20) co-operates with saidcounting element (10), said window (30) being provided with an abutment(31) against which said flexible finger (20) comes when it movesaxially, so that any additional axial movement causes said flexiblefinger (20) to be deformed elastically.
 17. A dispenser according toclaim 10, in which the reservoir (4) is mounted to be fixed in the body(1) of the dispenser, said dispenser further comprising a dispensingelement for actuating said dispensing member, said actuating means (20)for actuating said dose counter device being constrained to move withsaid dispensing element.
 18. A dispenser according to claim 17, in whichsaid dispensing element is a cover mounted to pivot between a positionin which the dispensing orifice (5) is closed, and a dispensingposition, the dispensing member (3) being a pump triggerable byinhaling.